Draft rigging



N. B, AKI'TT DRAFT RIGGING Filed June 29, 1929 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE DRAFT RIGGING Application June 29,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging, and more particularly to a coupler stem formed in two parts connected for relative pivotal movement.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a coupler with a stem formed in two parts connected for permitting angling of the coupler head, said stem being slotted for receiving a key for connection with an associated yoke and formed with a pocket receiving a shim adapted to engage the front edge of said key for transmitting buiiing forces thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupler, the stern of which involves a plurality of parts pivotally connected together and slotted for receiving a draft key for connection with an associated yoke, the forward portion of said slot being enlarged for receiving a shim adapted to seat on the front edge of said key, the front surface of said shim being curved coaxially with the pivotal connection between the parts of the stem, whereby angular motion is permitted between the stem and shim, said shim serving to transmit bul'ing forces from the coupler to the key and from thence to associated cheek plates and/or draft sills for protecting associated cushioning mechanism from excessive bufng forces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional view of railway draft rigging embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the stem of the coupler shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the stern of the coupler with the swivel block, pivot pin, key and shim removed on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, a portion of a railway vehicle underframe is illustrated involving center or draft sills I to which are preferably applied double slotted cheek plates 2. The outer ends of said sills may as usual be connected to a striking casting or combined striking casting and sill tie member and intermediate portions thereof may be connected by backstop 1929, Serial No. 374,755

or center ller castings (not shown) which are well known in the art.

Disposed between the sills I is the stem 3 of a coupler 4. Said coupler is of the type shown in Patent No. 1,431,717 to Donald S. Barrows in that it has a swivel block or pivotally connected butt portion 5 receiving the rearrnost or inner end of the stem. 3. The connection between the stem and swivel block 5 is, in the present embodiment, effected by a pin S held in position by flat cotters 'I extending between lugs 8 on the upper and lower surfaces of the swivel block 5 and received in notches 9 in the end of said pin. The stem 3 of the coupler 4 is formed with rearwardly extending anges or webs I0 and II embraced between or intercalated with respect to corresponding flanges or webs I2, I3 and I4, the rear edges of the flanges I0 and I I and engaged surfaces on the swivel block being coaxially curved with respect to the pivot pin 6 or apertures through said iianges for receiving said pin. The rearmost face of the swivel block 5 is preferably apertured or pocketed, as indicated at I5, for receiving the forwardly extending lug I6 on the associated front follower Il.

The stem of the articulated or two part coupler assembly is formed with a slot I8 preferably partially disposed in the intermediate iiange or web I3 on the swivel block and partially in the stem proper 3 of the coupler for receiving the draft n key I9 for connecting said coupler 4 with the associated yoke 20. The ends of said key are received in corresponding slots in the cheek plates 2 or draft sills I of the Vehicle. That portion of the slot I8 in the stem 3 is enlarged to provide l the pocket 2l in which is received a shim 22 preferably notched at 23 for receiving the front edge of the key I 9 and curved preferably coaxially with respect to the pivot pin 6 at its front face 24, as well as its rear face which preferably nests with 40 the front face of the flange I3 of the swivel block, the engaging surface on the stem 3 being correspondingly curved for permitting angling of the coupler with respect to the shim. The shim 22 thereby functions as a curved bearing portion at 45 the forward side or edge of the key adapted to cooperate with a correspondingly curved portion of the coupler for permitting angling therebetween.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised a coupler with an articulated stem permitting horizontal angling with respect to an associated yoke. Although in the present embodiment I have shown a yoke of the horizontal type, it will be understood that I do not wish to 55 be limited to this showing, as if desired, I may employ another type of yoke. Under the action of draft forces, the associated key serves to connect the coupler to the yoke and maintain the proper alinement of the parts on account of its ends being guided in the corresponding slots in the associated cheek plates 2. Under the action of buiing forces, the coupler moves rearwardly with respect to the yoke on account of they rear- Ward elongation of the corresponding slots in the yoke arms and cheek plates until the key engages the rearmost ends of the cheek plate slots when said key forms an abutment -..against which the shim 22 is stopped and, in turn, -stops the coupler and thereby serves for the direct transmission of overload bufling forces from the coupler through the shim and key to the cheek plates and draft sills of the car, vwhetherfthe coupler is straight or disposed at an angle .with respect to the yoke, thereby protecting the front follower I1 and rearwardly disposed .cushioning mechanism (not shown) from overlcads and possible injury.

:Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. Acoupler comprising a stem portion and a swivel block pivoted thereto, saidstem portion and swivel block having alternately interspaced flanges, an intermediate nange on the swivel block being slotted for receiving an associated draft key, the adjacent portion of said stem being formed with a complementary slotted portionfor receiving the front edge of such a key and-enlarged toaccommodate a shim seating on said front edge, pivotal means connecting said stem and swivel block, the edges of said flanges being coaxial with said pivotal means, the front surface of said shim and the engaged surface on said stem being curved coaxially with said pivotal means for permitting angling between said stem and shim, and the rear surface of said shim'being curved to nest with said swivel-block.

2. In railway draft rigging,'in combination with slotted draft sills, a yoke, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke, Aa coupler with a stem portion, a swivel block associated with `said stem portion, said stem portion and swivel block comprising alternately interspaced anges intercalated with respect to each other, thevedges'of lsaid flanges being coaxial withthe axis of swiveling, an intermediate flange on the swivel block'being notched, that portion of said stem forwardlyof said intermediate flange being provided with a rearwardly opening pocket, a draft key extending through slots in said sills and yoke and received in the notch in the swivel block landthe pocket in said coupler stem, and a shim lseated on the front edge of said key with afront face normally engaging the front wall of said pocket, whereby said shim is adapted to transmit buffing forces. from said coupler through said key to the rear ends of the slotted portions of -Asaidsills for the protection of said cushioning'mechanism, the front and rear edges ofsaid shim beingfcoax-ial with the axis of swiveling of said block so 'that the coupler is adapted to swivel about 4said shim and the shim normally nests with the intermediate flange of said swivel block.

l:said yoke and sills, the foremost of said intermeshing members being provided with a pocket, a shim -seated on said draft key, provided with a .forward surface curved coaxially with respect to Said pivotal meansto provide for angling of the .coupler .with-respect thereto, a rear surface correspondingly curved so as to normally nest with the adjacent .surface of the rearmost of said intermeshing members, and serving as a coupler stop -for the protection of said cushioning mechanism upon lthefapplication of'bufling forces.

L4. Inrailway draft'rigging, in combinationwith a yoke, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke, a coupler with a stem portion ttingbetweenthearmsofsaid yoke, said yoke and coupler stem having Vhorizontally aligned slots, a connecting keyv seated :in said slots, a follower disposed between said cushioning mechanism and coupler stem, separate draft and bufiing equalizing members, one ofrsaid members being seated within said stem .formed with substantially coaxialfront and rear surfaces, and bearing upon the forward portion of said key and the other of saidzmembers being interposed between the latter and the follower, having a front surface approximatelytting, and extending from close to the coaxial rear surface of, saidmember bearing on the forward portion of the key to said follower and unitary upright pivotal means lpassing through'saidother member and extending from top tobottom-cf the stem portion of said coupler for'connecting said member and coupler for `simultaneousmovement on both buff and draft.

,5. In railway draft rigging, in combination with a vyoke,.cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke, a coupler .with a stem portion fitting between thearms of said yoke, a connecting key passing through slots in saidrcoupler stem and yoke, a buffingequalizing member vseated within said stem, formed with substantially coaxial front and vrear surfaces, and bearing upon said key, and a separate draftequalizing member interposed between vsaid stem and the cushioning mechanism, said .buiiing equalizer member being bifurcated to form rearwardly extending flanges embracing the forward portion of the key and extending kclose to the forward'portion o'f said draftA equalizing member, said .fdraft equalizing member having its forward surfaces approximately coaxial with theadjacent surfaces on the. bufng equalizing member, and unitary upright pivotal means passing through said draft member and extending .from ytop to bottom of the stem portion ofsaid coupler for connecting said member and coupler .for simultaneous movement on both buff .anddraft NORMAN B. AKI'I'I'. 

